England Women Assistant Manager Steps Down

Former forward Marieanne Spacey has stepped down as England Women assistant coach to take up a new role at the Football Association. Spacey leaves boss Mark Sampson's staff with immediate effect to become the FA's women's player and coach developer.

Spacey has been prominent within the England coaching set-up, notably as assistant to Sampson when the Lionesses finished third at the 2015 World Cup and just this month when she led the Under-23 side to the Nordic Tournament title. She combined the Under-23 role with senior team duties, but now moves to a position where a key element will focus on identifying and bringing through generations of players from age-group sides into the full England set-up.

According to the FA, That programme will formally launch in September as the new Women's Super League season begins.

Spacey, who received her UEFA Pro Licence this month, said of her new challenge “It's personally exciting to be leading such an innovative programme that will really drive forward the development of the elite women's game and hopefully help us meet our goal of a winning England team in 2023.”